Financing / Crowdfunding

From all facets of a traditional raise to soft money to crowdfunding strategies, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice regarding raising funds for a project.

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our January Community Open House!

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our January Community Open House!

Wednesday, January 28th at 12:00 pm PT!

Every success story begins with a first step.

If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our January Community Open House Webcast happening Wednesday, January 28th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-january-2026-community-open-house-webcast

Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply ready to stop creating in isolation, the Stage 32 Community Open House is your moment to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.

This free live event isn’t a presentation—it’s a fully interactive session led by you and guided by Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32. You’ll have the opportunity to share your goals, ask questions, and tell us exactly what resources or support you’re looking for right now in your creative journey.

Ashley will walk you through the most powerful tools and features on Stage 32, including how to build a strong profile that acts as your virtual business card—clearly showcasing your skills, interests, and creative voice. You’ll learn how to participate in the free Stage 32 Lounges in a way that positions you as someone others want to collaborate with, including how to make a compelling post, contribute to ongoing conversations, and stay consistently active in a way that builds visibility and trust.

You’ll also learn how to keep up with the latest industry news, platform updates, and community insights through the Stage 32 Blog, and how to access Stage 32 Education, Certification, and Script Services that align with your next big move.

This session will close with a live Q&A tailored specifically to your goals and questions—whether you’re a writer, director, producer, actor, editor, or someone who wears multiple hats.

Wherever you’re starting from, this is your launchpad. Join us and take that first step with intention.

If you can’t attend live, don’t worry — registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere.

Who’s planning to join me live for the Open House?


Liked by Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan

Great advice, James Woodland!

Jack Binder
Weekend Box Office Leaders

Weekend U.S. Box Office Estimates

Hugh G Potter
2026 New Years Resolution Producing Independent film working title Chinook

My 2026 New Year's resolution is to produce a feature film titled "Chinook." I have a budget of $600K, a local producer helping refine it, locations secured, and a key native actor attached to the project, with two additional producers on standby if I can secure funding. I'm also working with a loca...

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Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations to you and your writing partner, Hugh G Potter! I hope you reach your New Year's resolution!

Short‑Form Use‑Case

 

Now that the IP‑Backed Security Entitlement (IPBSE) framework is established, I want to show how it functions in real‑world scenarios. These use cases demonstrate how creators and companies can apply the structure upstream to make their IP capital‑ready.

Top Use Cases:

- Converting multi‑layered IP...

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Baron Rothschild

This sheet demonstrates how the IP‑Backed Security Entitlement (IPBSE) framework functions in a real‑world scenario.

It translates the arch...

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Sam Rivera

This is a fascinating and valuable breakdown. Thank you for translating a complex financial framework into clear, actionable use cases for creators. The ability to standardize and structure layered IP...

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Baron Rothschild

Sam, I appreciate the way you articulated the core tension so clearly. Most creators feel that pressure intuitively, but it’s rare to see it named with this level of precision. The entire purpose of I...

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Johnny L Watson Jr
Building a Multi‑Project Slate: How Are You Positioning Your Films for Today’s Financing Landscape?

As J·R Films™, LLC™ continues expanding our studio slate, I’ve been refining our development materials to better align with today’s financing expectations. Over the past year, I’ve learned how essential it is to present each project with clarity, visual identity, and a strong sense of market positio...

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Michael Fitzer, MFA
The Letter of the Law

So you have a great script. Even an up-and-coming actor is considering taking part... now you have to raise that cash. I have known more people than I can count sitting on the financing fence. A great project in one hand but nothing to produce it with. Some of those people have come to me promising...

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Maurice Vaughan

Excellent advice, Michael Fitzer, MFA! I didn't know that about finder's fees. Thanks.

Dark Comedy/Drama Series Project – Looking for Producers/Directors and Funding Advice

Hi everyone,

My name is Hasan Ay, and I’m a screenwriter based in Turkey. I’m currently developing an original 10-episode dark comedy/drama series titled B!CHT (approx. 40 minutes per episode).

The story explores family loyalty, moral collapse, and survival in a world where money reshapes relations...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Hasan Ay. Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to...

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David Taylor

Merhaba, iyi şanslar.

The IPBSE Flow: How Intellectual Property Becomes Collateral

THE IPBSE FLOW --------------------------------- | Upstream Layer | --------------------------------- | 1. IP Asset | | (creative, corporate, | | sovereign) | --------------------------------- ↓ Assignment --------------------------------- | Entitlement Layer | --------------------------------- | 2....

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Jack Binder
Marché du Film Registration Opens Feb. 2

REGISTRATION

Registration opens 2 February 2026!

Remember that you must have a current professional activity in the film industry in order to register as a participant at the Marché du Film.

For frequently asked questions about registration, please visit our dedicated FAQ below:

https://www.marchedufilm...

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Registration | Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes
Registration | Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes
Registration opens 2 February 2026! Remember that you must have a current professional activity in the film industry in order to register as a participant
Jack Binder
The Frontières Platform organized by the Marché du Film -Festival de Cannes & Fantasia International Film Festival

Calling all genre filmmakers!

The Frontières Platform in Cannes — organized by the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes and Fantasia International Film Festival — is now accepting project submissions for its 2026 edition!

Apply for one of our two genre pitching sessions!

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Genre project...

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Jack Binder

https://www.marchedufilm.com/news/frontieres-2026-call-for-projects-now-open

Pat Alexander
It Took Rian Johnson 7 Years To Get "Brick" Financed

Rian Johnson and Steve Yedelin made the choice not to make a proof or concept or short film version of "Brick" and instead got whatever money they could find and make it.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY09zjzEo_8)...

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Maurice Vaughan

Must-watch video! Thanks for sharing it, Pat Alexander. I've heard of filmmakers doing it both ways (making a proof of concept/short film to get financing for the feature version and getting the funds...

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Michael Fitzer, MFA
Making Your Script Budget-Friendly

For my next film, I'm in the unique position of serving not just as the writer/producer, but also as the DP. Not an oft-found combo, but one that serves a variety of purposes.

With a finite budget in place, I'm now working with the director to make line edits to the script as well as searching for wa...

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Maurice Vaughan

Great advice, Michael Fitzer, MFA! I've done that with a director-producer on scripts. Sometimes a scene needed to be scaled back, a location needed to be changed, etc....

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Amanda Toney

I had to go through this on a film that we are currently shooting right now. The producers all love the script which came from Stage 32 member Martin Reese. we had a hell of a time securing the financ...

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Richard "RB" Botto

Extremely and always. And it requires that everyone checks their ego at the door. Great post, Michael Fitzer, MFA

Jack Binder

The goal in indie film must always be the highest production value for the most economical cost. If a script element is out of proportion to the balance of the budget it must certainly be addressed be...

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